Australia Just Had Its Deadliest Mass Shooting In 22 Years

Australia Just Had Its Deadliest Mass Shooting In 22 Years

Seven people have been found dead in the town of Margaret River, in southern Western Australia on Friday. This may be Australia’s worst mass shooting in 22 years – following the mass shooting of 35 people in the Port Arthur massacre, which occurred in 1996.

The bodies of three adults and four children were found in a rural property in Osmington village, near Margaret River, WA. Western Australia’s police commissioner Chris Dawson said that two adults were found outside one of the buildings on the property, with the remaining adult and four children being found inside. Two guns were found at the premises, however Dawson has not commented on the possibility of murder-suicide.

“Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as a horrific incident,” Dawson told reporters, adding “This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and, in particular, the local communities in our southwest.”

Australia changed its gun laws following the massacre at Port Arthur, confiscating or buying-back more than 1 million firearms. Farmers on rural properties in Australia are legally allowed to own guns, as they have to deal pests, predators, and sick livestock.